Characteristics of employers offering dental coverage in the United States.

BACKGROUND

The authors conducted a study to describe the current market for dental benefit offerings by employers and to describe the number and percentage of establishments that offer dental care coverage.

METHODS

The authors examined the 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Insurance Component and describe the number and percentage of establishments that offered at least one health insurance plan; establishments that offered dental insurance; and, of those establishments that offered at least one health insurance plan, the percentage that offered a dental insurance plan.

RESULTS

The study results show that 56 percent of all establishments offered health insurance in 2006. Approximately 35 percent of all establishments and 63 percent of establishments that offered health insurance offered dental insurance in 2006.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in employee coverage rates between health insurance and dental insurance is reflected largely in the rates at which employers offered health insurance and dental insurance coverage in 2006.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

By understanding these analyses, practitioners will be better positioned to provide care, improve access and respond to changes in the health care coverage marketplace.